Stanley Cup Conference Finals

I don't want to brag, but I went 4-for-4 on my predictions for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (11-of-12 overall including the first round).  What's more, I even had the right number of games for three of the four series.  The only one I missed was two extra games in Chicago-Minnesota.

And that brings us to a pair of conference finals that I think actually do match-up the four best teams in hockey.  Sometimes we'll see a lower-seeded team sneak in, but this year we didn't.  Entering the playoffs, all four of the remaining teams were considered Cup contenders, and that hasn't changed.  I can't even pick a favorite at this point.  All four are capable of getting the eight more wins they need.  They're all strong.  These conference finals are gonna be good.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Rangers vs. Lightning: This is not the matchup the Rangers wanted.  Tampa Bay has their number.  Very badly.  The Lightning won all three games between the teams this season, and none of them were close.  However, they were also all early in the year, before the Rangers went on their ridiculous run to jump to the top of the NHL.  Regardless, they wanted to see Montreal or really anybody else.  Anyone other than Tampa Bay.

It also doesn't help that it's not just an NHL rule the Rangers play Capitals in the playoffs.  It's a rule that they got seven.  Playing all those one-goal games might end up hurting them eventually, too.  Playoff hockey is ultra-intense, and the intensity is dialed up that much higher in close games.  Even more so in overtime.  They've got the best goalie on the planet, but would it kill them to give Lundqvist a little bit of a break at some point?  As great as Lundqvist is, you can't keep relying on your goalie to win games 2-1.  You need some offensive punch.  During the end of the Washington series, Chris Kreider stepped up and turned things around in the Rangers' favor.  Maybe that'll carry over into the conference finals.

Scoring's not a problem for the Lightning.  In fact, they seem to be reinvigorated by moving Steven Stamkos to the wing.  Plus, they've got a healthy Ben Bishop.  Last season, when they got swept out of the playoffs in the first round, it was because Bishop was hurt.  This season, they've added a healthy goalie to their scoring punch, and it resulted in their first trip to the conference finals in four years.  They've also got a ton of ex-Rangers on the roster, which is going to be ultra-confusing, but could also help explain why the Lightning have owned the Rangers over the last two years.

Tampa Bay swept Montreal in the regular season and it carried over into the playoffs.  If this series starts like that one, it'll be short.  The Rangers need to figure out a way to actually beat the Lightning early.  Because if they don't, Tampa Bay won't let them back in the series.  They came back from 3-1 against the Capitals, but that won't happen against a better Lightning team.  I do think the Rangers will finally get a win.  Will they get four, though?  That I'm not so sure of.  Lightning in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Ducks vs. Blackhawks: Anaheim and Chicago have been the two most dominant teams so far in the playoffs.  As evidence by the fact that the two conference semis went a combined nine games.  When the playoffs started, most people predicted a Ducks-Blackhawks Western Conference Final.  And while Anaheim was the better team in the regular season, Chicago is built for the playoffs, which makes this series an absolute toss-up.

The Ducks have been every bit as impressive in the postseason as they were in the regular season.  Anaheim is a much better team than both Winnipeg and Calgary, and it showed.  That won't be the case against Chicago.  On paper, the Ducks probably are better than the Blackhawks, but the difference is negligible.  They also have to overcome a history of playoff disappointment.  They haven't been to the conference final since 2007.  Let's see if that lack of experience relative to the Blackhawks comes into play.

As for the Blackhawks, they're doing what they normally do this time of the year.  Chicago's in the Western Conference Final for the third straight year and looking to win its third Cup since 2010.  Against Minnesota, it looked like they really hit their stride, and after the goalie merry-go-round that was the first round, Corey Crawford settled in and once again played like the Cup-winning goalie he is against the Wild.  Offensively, the teams are a wash.  If the real Corey Crawford shows up, Chicago has the goaltending edge, though, and that could make the difference.

No matter what, I think this series goes deep.  They're both well-rested, talented, and well-coached.  This is the series everybody wanted to see, and it's going to be just as competitive as we were all hoping.  There's going to be plenty of goals scored, so it'll be all about who stops more.  I just have a feeling that'll be the Blackhawks.  It's their turn to win the West in that weird Giants-Cardinals thing they've got going on with the Kings.  Blackhawks in seven.